Kneeling bench



Dec. 17,1940.

J. ROTHBART KNE'ELING BENCH Filed Aug, 2, 194 .7

3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR #4605 Earl- BART ATTO R N EY Dec@ 17, 1940. J. ROTHBART 2,225,000

KNEELING BENCH Filed Aug. 2, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 NTOR . INVE meals leo THBART Dec. 17, 1940- J RQTHBART 2,225,000

KNEELING BENCH 7 Filed Aug. 2, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR JACOB EOTHBAQT Patented Dec. 17, 1940 UNITED "STATES PATENT OFFICE i 2,225,000

v KNEE LING BENCH Jacob Bothbart, Ncw'York, N. Y., assignor to Bronx Casket Mfg. 00., Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporationof New York p Application August 2, 1940, Serial No. 349,664

4 Claims.

The present; inventionrelates to kneeling benches also known as prayer'rails 'and contemplates the provision of a kneeling bench capable of being collapsibly folded for convenience in" transportation or storage.

The present invention further contemplates the provision of' such a structure in which novel means are used for supporting and joining the various parts so that the structure can be readily 'folded and so that when said structure is in upright position it is rigidand will not accidentally collapse.

Further objects of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and the drawings in connection therewith in which Fig. 1 is a front elevation of an embodiment of the present device in upright position.

Fig, 2 is a plan View of the same.

Fig. 3 is an end elevation. g I k v Fig. 4 is a vertical sectiontaken'substantially along the line 4-4 of Fig.1.

, Fig. 5 is an end elevation of the device in its collapsed position. v I

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 4 but showing the device in its collapsed position; Y

Fig. 'l'is 'a fragmentary vertical section of Fig. {i taken'substantially along the line' 'I--'I. v

Fig. 8 is a bottom plan view of the mechanism connecting the panel with the stationary horizontal portion of the kneeling bench.

The preferred embodiment 'of the present invention illustrated in'the drawings may be provided with an ornamental vertical panel ID. This 35 panel may be constructed of two horizontal members I 2 and twovertioal members I4 which may be joined together by welding, rivets or in any other desired fashion. The panel I0 may, if desired, also be made in one piece and ornamentation may be providedfor as desired. The vertical members I4 may each be provided with cup-like members I6 between which may be arranged translucent and preferably colored materials I8. This material may be made of glass or of a translucent plastic- The back 'of the vertical. member I4 may be cut .away behind said translucent materials I8 so-that lamps or candles maybe inserted there; if desired so as to provide a source of light behind the translucent material I8. The cups IS havingthe translucent member I8 arranged therebetween may be secured to the vertical members I4 by casting said cups with bosses 20 thereon having an internal thread within said bosses which cooperate with machine bolts 22 passing through the 24 may be formed so that the lower portions thereof flare outwardly to form larger bases thereby promoting the stability of the entire structure.

When the kneeling bench is in its upright 7 position, the legs 24 are arranged directly underneath the vertical members I4 of the frame. In order that the device may be collapsed and made more compact, it is desired that the legs 24 be not permanently fixed underneath the vertical members I4 but that they be adapted to be swung backward and upward behind the vertical members I4 as shown in Figs. 5 and 6. For this purpose, the legs 24 maybe provided with rearwardly and upwardly offset lugs 25 having holes thereon for pivotal arrangement on a shaft 26 which is supported by a forked bracket 28 extending rearwardly from vertical member I4.

It will be seen that when the leg 24 is in normal position any weight on the panel III will act to maintain said position and that the leg will not be urged around the shaft 26 because of the mounting of said shaft eccentric to the vertical axis of the vertical member I4 and the leg 24. To, however, provide against the accidental collapse of the leg, a leaf spring 30 may be attached to the leg 24 on the side thereof opposite the shaft 26, said leaf spring having a. bent portion thereof adapted to enter a notch 32 formed in the vertical member I4 opposite theshaft on which the leg 24 swings. When the leg 24 is moved from collapsed position behind the vertical member I4 to a position directly thereunder, the leaf spring 30 snaps into the notch 32 and aids in preventing the accidental collapse of the leg 24. To positively prevent such accidental collapse, 2. flange 34 may be provided extending vertically from the leg 24 a short distance along the side of the vertical member I4 opposite the shaft 26. The flange 34 is engaged as will be later explained by a bolt which presses against it and thereby positively prevents the leg 24 from being-collapsed accidentally.

It will be seen that when the leg 24 is pivoted around the shaft 26 into collapsed position as shown in Fig. 6 a portion of the larger part of the leg enters into the aperture formed behind the cup members I6 and the translucent material thereinbetween. This tends to reduce the bulk of the entire device in collapsed position.

To support the horizontal bench member on which the actual kneeling is done, two hollow horizontal bench supports 40 are arranged perpendicular to the ornamental frame l8 and abut the vertical panel members I4. In cross section, these bench supports 40 have the-appearance of an inverted U and towards the ends thereof abutting the panel they flare into a larger cross section.

Across the supports 48, a wooden board 42 may be placed and secured to the support by any desired means such as wood screws, etc. A padding material 44 is arranged above said wooden board covered by upholstery 45 and there may also be provided ornamental tassels or an ornamental fringe 48 descending from the upholstery material. At the end of each support opposite the end normally adjacent the panel l0, leg 58 may be provided and may be secured to the normally horizontal support members 48 by means of machine bolts which may be screwed into internal threads formed in the top of the legs 58, or by any other arrangement that may seem desirable. The legs 58 may be fixed permanently in position and it is not necessary for the purpose of this invention that they be capable of being folded.

The mechanism for connecting the normally horizontal supports 48 to the ornamental panel M will now be described. Since it is desired that the. entire structure may be folded so as to occupy less room for the purposes hereinbefore set forth, the connection between the horizontal member 48 and the ornamental frame I8 is not a fixed connection. This connection instead is so made that the entire structure may be collapsed into the position illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6.

For this purpose, I prefer to provide links 60 having one end thereof pivotally connected to the underside of the supports 48 at its middle. The position of this connection may, however, be varied. It is preferred that this pivotal connection be at a distance from the ends of the supports 40 normally adjacent the panel.

Thelinks 66 may be forked at both ends thereof. The means for pivotally connecting the ends of the links 68 with the member 40 may be any of several well known means. The ends 62 of the link 60 which are to be arranged on the member 48 in the embodiment illustrated in the drawings and seen best in Fig. 8 may be pivotally arranged on the member 4!] by passing bolts 64 through the depending sides of the members 40, securing said bolts in place by means of lock nuts, arranging one of the forked ends 62 of the link 60 between a set of washers on each of said bolts 64 and providing a pair of nuts to secure said washers onto said bolts. The other forked ends 68 of the links 68 are pivotally arranged on shafts 18. These shafts T8 are in turn mounted on forked brackets 12.

It will be seen that the links 60 are now connected at one end to the center of the horizontal support members 4!]. The other end of the links 60 are pivotally arranged on brackets. These brackets are not directly attached to the ornamental frame l8.

As shown in Fig. 4, the brackets 12 have extending from the backs thereof stud bolts '14. These are passed through openings near the lower end of the vertical members l4 and are engaged by manually-operable knurled nuts 16. It will be seen that when the nuts 16 are turned clockwise they will draw the brackets 72 inwardly against the vertical members l4. To guide the brackets in their movement to and from the vertical member 14, a guide flange 18 is arranged to pass along the top of each of the brackets 12. A bolt is also arranged on each of the brackets 12 on the bottom thereof and extends a distance therethrough. Lock nuts may be used to prevent the bolts from inadvertent turning. The bolts 88 move with the brackets toward the members l4 when the nuts 16 are tightened. The bolts 88 engage the flanges 34 and lock the legs 24 in vertical position.

It will be evident that when the nuts l6 are tightened the horizontal support members 48 will be drawn up against the vertical members I 4.

.It will be seen that in this position the edge 86 of each horizontal support 48 adjacent the vertical members I4 is drawn flush against the latter. Tov prevent the horizontal member 40 from being displaced upwardly, a stop lug or a locking element 82 protruding from each of the vertical members I 4 is provided. This locking element 82 passes over the top of the horizontal support 40 at the end 86 thereof. To further aid in preventing the end 86 of the horizontal support 40 from being displaced upward, a shoulder 84 may be provided on the end 86 of the horizontal support 48 near the bottom thereof. This shoulder 84 is positioned under the bottom of the vertical panel member l4 when the kneeling bench is in its upright position and the end 85 of the member 4i! is flush with the vertical member l4.

As will be more clearly seen in Fig. 4, the kneeling bench is maintained in its upright position by means of the links 60 operating through the brackets 12, the stud bolts 14 and the'nuts l6 which serve to hold the horizontal supports 40 in fixed relationship with the front frame H) and by means of the stops 82 and the shoulders 84 which prevent the horizontal supports 40 from swinging about the links 50, and pivoting together with the links 60 around the shaftslli into collapsed position.

It will be further seen that-when the hand nuts 76 are loosened that the brackets 12 may be drawn inwardly and the .horizontalsupports may also move in the same direction until the ends 86 thereof pass the ends of the stop-lugs 82 and the shoulders 84 pass from underneath the vertical members [4.

It will then be seen that by swinging the members 40 around the pivots 64 so that the ends 86 of the horizontal supports 40 move upwardly and that by further swinging the horizontal supports 40 together with the links 60 around the shafts 10 the collapsed positionshown in Figs. 5 and 6 will be assumed. Thefront legs 50 are short and although rigid in collapsed position they extend under the collapsed structure and do .not take up any additional room. Thus, by reason of my invention the legsill can be rigidly attached.

To guide the'ends 8.6 .of the horizontal supports 40 so that they will not flap or swing outwardly, levers 88 are'provided having one of their ends pivoted on each of the horizontal'supports 40 adjacent the shou1de'rs 84 and being provided on their opposite ends with guide rollers 92. These rollers are fitted over the edges of the vertical panel member I4 and designed when the ends 86 of the member 48 are swung upwards toride alongthe edges of the vertical members L4. The ends 86 of the horizontal supports 40 are thus guided in their upward swing into collapsed position and are also guided in their downward swing when the normal upright position is to be assumed. To prevent the rollers 92 from rolling off the edge of the horizontal supports 4%, stop elements 94 are provided at the bottom of the vertical members 14. These may consist of a bolt screwed into the bottom of said element H! or a lug formed integral therewith, or any other desired means.

From the foregoing description, it will be evident that I have provided an improved collapsible structure for kneeling benches for facilitating the transportation and storage of the same. It will be further evident that I have provided a strong and durable structure and one which is compact when in collapsed position. Moreover, it will be seen that I have provided a collapsible kneeling bench in which the front legs may be rigid and do not have to be folded. It will also be apparent that I have provided such a structure which is adapted to be positively locked in upright position thereby preventing accidental collapse. Other advantages of this improved structure will be apparent 1 from the' foregoing description.

panel member whereby the end of said support member opposite the leg is positioned underneath said locking element to thereby lock the support member against upward swinging.

2. In a collapsible kneeling bench, the combination with a panel arranged on foldable legs, of a normally horizontal support member, means for collapsibly connecting said panel with said support member, including a link having one end thereof pivotally arranged on said support member, a bracket member on which the other end of the link, is pivotally arranged, a manuallyoperable means arranged on said bracket member and panel to draw said support member under meansv on said panel and said bracket member toward said panel and means on said bracket into engagement with means on a corresponding foldable leg in unfolded position, thereby locking said support memberagainst upward swinging and concurrently locking the foldable leg in unfolded position.

3. In a collapsible kneeling bench, the combination with a vertical panel member of a normally horizontal support member pivotally connected intermediate its ends to said panel member whereby the end of said support member normally adjacent said panel member is adapted to be swung upward and the support member thereby arranged vertically adjacent said panel member,a locking element arranged on said panel member and manually-operable means adapted to draw the aforementioned end of said support member toward said panel and under said looking element whereby said support member is locked against upward swinging.

4. In a collapsible kneeling bench, the combination with a vertical panel member of a normally-horizontal support member, means for pivotally connecting said members together, a looking element arranged on said panel member, manually-operable means comprised in said pivoting means for drawing said support member horizontally toward said panel member whereby the inner end thereof is positioned underneath said locking element to thereby lock the support member against upward swinging.

JACOB ROTHBART. 

